Unloading machine



E. l.: BRADT 1,783,823

UNVLOADING MACHINE Dec. 2, 1930.

Filed'Aug. 12, 192g 4 sheets-sheet 1 Dec. 2, 1930. E. BRADT UNLOADING MACHINE Filed Aug. l, 1929 4 sheets-sheet 2 DBC- 2, 1930- E. L. BRADT UNLOADING MACHINE Filed Aug. 12, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 wml Dec. 2, 1930. E. BRADT 1,783,823

UNLOADING MACHINE Filed Aug. 12, 1929 4 sheets-sheet 4 `2o isloc'ated In order to be Patented Dec. 72, 1930 I Y i i UNITED/STATE Sie anu/falen L. BRADT, oF srrnnvnronr, LoUIsIANmjAssIGNoR To ARMBRUsTEa-INC.; or

A 1 sHREvEPoRT, LOUISIANA, A ooRPoRA'rIoNor' LOUISIANAv UNLonDING'IviacIIINE Application filed August 12, 1929. 5 VSerial No. 3815,183.

`My invention relates to materialehandling apparatus adapted for .unloading gravel; coal or the like, or Vfor transferring Vthe same from one car or truck to another or vfrom a storage 5 pileto acar'ortruck.` s Y The objects of the inventionare to proveand simplify thecon-structionfof apparatus Aof this ncharacter and to provide a flexible' apparatus that is' easily handled Vand Ilo is eicient in operation. f .A

'In apparatus of this character embodyingl adjustable fconveyorl'elements, the meansV us` ually providedY for `adjusting the respective elements in'relation to the car orpile coni 1'5 tainingthematerial-to be'.- Handled isV rel'a.

tively complicated. f 'It is ordinarily" necessary both to elevate A'the material and` rto transfer it from; one side of the machine.y to the other Vwhere' Vthe r'eceivinVY car or truck exib-le enough to meet the requirements f of Vactual servieren4 the elevating conveyor must be adapted "to be raised andlowered at will and alsoiadapted topick up material'from' points at different distances from one side of` theV machine while continuously discharging the material into a stationa y receiving Ycar at the oppo# siteside.

In orderto meet these'v requirements which arepf'considerable practical importance, the

machine embodying'fthe present invention comprises atilting mast structure vsupp o rting a substantially horizontal boom which in turn supports ra depending endless bucket .35 conveyor or similarqelevating means.. The

tiltingmast structure is p'ivoted` at or. near itsflower endto the mainframe of the machine.` 'fThe boom Vis likewise pivotedfto the mast structure v"and VtheV elevating conveyor 40 is adapted tobe swung bacli` and forth Vabout its pivot upon; the boom. "The tilting of the mast upon the main frame and the swinging of therconveyor'varies the reach of the latter whereas the raising and lowering of the boom permits the necessary verticaladjustment'of themconveyor. Thepositions of the several elements justfdescribed Vare preferably controlled mechanically by the source of power utilizedfor driving the conveyor. I

v,vating conveyor tothe 'shown'` on .belt

chine Vshown in Figs. l and`2 .but 'drawnto thefnvention'the angularitybf theconveyor is. controlled by Ia movable element or frame extending between the conveyor and the'inast structur`e,which frame' further Vsupports aV conveyor; for. example ofthe belt typeyfor transferring the material raisedby the eleopposte side ofthe machinewhere the receiving' car or truck is located. 1

' f Otlier objects and advantages of'my invention will appear from the following detailed description. l ofA theyjembodimentfthereof the accornp'an'ying'drawings,V in which'l 'y Fi'gl a rear elevational view of the complete m'achine as employed in unloading a railway f Fig. 2;.is a side elevational View of the machine shownin'Fig.'V f j Y Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views of; certain of the driving elementsof the machine; and Fig. 5 is a detail view of a portion of the conveyor'and adjacent:V parts of the maan enlargedscale.' y p y Referring particularly to Figs. l and 2, the complete machineembodies amain frame l upon` which a tilting vmast structure 2 is pivotter,'is not shownin detail.

secured to the upper end of the tilting mast 2 atthe point 8. An elevatingconveyorrQ, of the bucket type for example, is suspended from the outer end of the boom 7. The bucket `conveyor may be of anyknown construction and may be angularly adjusted about the shaft lO'journalled in theboom 4''` and consti-` 0 i tuting a pivot for thejconveyor. The `eleva- 1 50 .In-` accordance -zwlth a furtherI `feature of:

tion. of-the'boOm-*Z s'controlld by a-movable' esv Y Y V6)A A frame 7 constituting aboom 1s pivotally supporting strut 11 extending between the boom and the mast structure 2.

A second conveyor frame 12 is provided for transferring the material elevated by the bucket conveyor 9 to the opposite side of the machine where the receiving car or truck is located. The conveyor frame 12 supportsra continuouslydriven belt 13 for this purpose. The conveyor frame 12 is further provided with guiding means 14 adjacent the belt 13 for preventing spilling of the material.

A shaft 15 is mounted on the elevating conveyor frame and provides a pivotal connection between the frames 9 and 12. A second shaft 16 is mounted in suitable brackets upon the tilting mast 2 and is adapted to support the rear end of the belt conveyor frame 12.

As shown, the frame 12 is slotted as indicated at 17 to embrace the shaft 16, suitable antifriction rollers being interposed between the frame and the shaft. i

In operation, the elevating conveyor and the belt conveyor `arecontinuously driven by the engine 5 through the chain 20. A suitable clutch 21 may be interposed between the engine 5 and the driving chain 20.

The chain 20 drives a second sprocket 24 supported upon a shaft 25 which is journalled in the upper end of the mast. A third sprocket 26 mounted upon the shaft 25 is driven by the sprocket 24 and is adapted to drive another sprocket 27 on the outer end of the boom 7 'through the chain 28. The sprocket 27 is mounted upon the shaft 10 already described. Driving sprockets 30 for the bucket conveyor 9 are also mounted upon the shaft 10 as shown in Fig. 5.

A sprocket 31 upon the opposite end of the shaft 10 from the sprocket 27 is adapted to drive a sprocket 32 upon the shaft 15 through the driving chain 33. The sprocket 32 is a double sprocket and serves to drive a sprocket 35 through a driving chain 36. The sprocket 35 is secured to a shaft 37 which supports a driving pulley 38 for the belt conveyor 13 as shown in Fig. 5. It will be noted that the pivotal points of the respective sprockets 27, 31 and 32 correspond to the pivotal connections between the boom and the elevating conveyor and between the two conveyor frames whereby relative movement of the elevating conveyor with respect to the boom or relative movement of the two conveyor frames do not affect the driving connections tothe respective conveyors.

lVhile the detailed arrangement of the conveyors and the driving connections therefor may be modified without departing from the scope of the invention, the general arrangement of the two cooperating conveyors and their correlation to each other are important featuresof the invention. The tilting of the mast structure 2 raises and lowers the end of the bucket elevator 9 and the angular position of the bucket elevator 9 aboutI the pivot point 10 may be adjusted by lateral movement of the cooperating conveyor frame 12 which engages the former at the point 15. Further vertical adjustment of the bucket elevator is provided for by raising and lowering the boom 7. It is therefore possible to adjust the position of the lower end of the bucket conveyor 9 both horizontally and vertically over a wide range without affecting the driving connections to the respective conveyors or the cooperative relationof said conveyors. The apparatus is flexible in operation and adapted to meet the various requirements of practical service while at the same time the ruggedness and simplicity of the construction is apparent. i

Suitable means, such as aprons or guide members 40 and 41, may be provided to prevent spilling of the material as it is dumped from the elevating conveyor to the belt conveyor.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, means is provided for mechan ically adjusting the elevating conveyor 9 with reference to the body of material being handled by the agency of the engine 5. Two segmental gears 45 are rigidly secured to opposite sides of the lower end of the tilting mast structure 2 and are adapted to mesh with pinions 46 upon a shaft47 journalled in the frame 1. A worm gear48 ismounted upon the outer .end of shaft 47 as shown 1n Fig. 2, and is adapted to engage a worm 49 upon a shaft 50 also j ournalled in the frame. As shown in Figs. 1 and 4, two bevel gears 51 and 52 are mounted upon the shaft 50. These gears are not keyed to the shaft but are adapted to rotate freely thereon. Both of the gears engage a driving gear 53 connected to the driving engine 5.

A clutch member 54 slidably mounted upon the shaft 50 but keyed thereto is adapted to provide a driving connection between either of the gears 51 or 52 and the shaft 50. The clutch member 54 and the gears 51 and 52 are providedwith engaging portions 55 for this purpose. The adjustment of the clutch member 54 may be effected in any desired manner, as by means of the usual collar mounted in the peripheral groove 56 of the clutch member. It will be noted that 'the gearing is adapted to reduce the driving speed in order that gradual and accurate control of the tilting mast may be effected.

The control ofthe raising and lowering of the boom 7 and the swinging of the bucket conveyor 9 is effected by Winches and cables driven by the engine 5 through suitable clutch mechanism. Two cable Winches or drums 60 and 61 are loosely journalled upon a shaft 62, as shownin Figs. 2 and 3. The shaft62 is driven by the engine 5 through ordinary reversing gear and when control is desired the` cable drums are clutched to the shaft to be rotated thereby. Two cable v drums 63 and 64,*are journalled upon'shafts 65 and 66, each of thesev cable drums embody-V ing large and small drum surfaces. From the larger portions of the drums, cables 67 and 68 extend tothe drums 60 and 61. A cable 69 extends from the smaller portion of the drum 68 and is secured to a frame member 7 O Vwhich is adapted to slide verticallyv upon the mast structure 2 andgtherebyY raise and lower the lsupporting strut l1V and the boom 7 connectedthereto. ner a cable 7l extends from the smaller portion of the drum 64 aroundthe pulleys 72 and 73 uponthe mast and belt conveyor frame respectively in such a manner as to control the lateral movement of theA .belt conveyor Y Yiframe andV the angular position of the dei tion with the mast toV adjust the elevation of pending ybucket conveyor 9. The pulley 72 is freely rotatable upon the shaft 16 and the pulley 73 isfreely rotatable upon a shaft v74, which also supports the outer end of the belt conveyor 13. It will be noted that the L relative diameters of the cable drums are such as to reduce thel speed ratio so that vgradual and accurate adjustment Vof the elements of the machine maybe readilyettected. The detailed construction of the cable drums, clutches and pulleys maybe variouslyrmodified and since suitable forms of such elements Vare known, the same are not shown in detail.

Various -modifications n A.of the apparatus shown and described above will occur to those skilled in the art and'I do notvdesire that the scope of the invention be limited except as limitations may be contained in the said conveyor, and additional means for adjusting the angular dependent position of the conveyor relative to the vertical mast;

2. In a machine of the'character described,

a main frame, a vertically disposed mast structure pivotally supported thereon for tilting movement in a vertical plane, a boom element hinged at one end' to the mast, a

depending endless conveyor suspendedfrom the boom, adjustablel supporting means for the boom to raise and lower the endless conlo 'veyor and means including an arm extending Aing the angular dependent position of the between the conveyor and the mast for varyformer. y Y

3. In a machine of the characterv described, a main frame, a vertically disposed mast structure pivotally supported thereon for In a similar mang' -.fti'ltingfmovenent dirla vertical planearzrboom L'rz-element hinged-'ateoneendtolthemast;adey Y pending@ endless:z conveyor-suspended @from .othefboonnrmeansfforfswingingftheibomrto :'iraisefiandvlower the? conveyr'and' means covoperating with the mast structurezrtojadjust l the" .angularit-yv of1, the-" endlessconveyorysaid "-:lafstenamed V:means embodying; a.: second` conveyor f element cooperating withn'the H `first- 1mentionediconvleyoraV 4:: 11a-main frame,:f1a vertically Idisposedfinast structure lpivotally ysupported thereon cfor i rtiltingfmovement ina vertical plane5 alfboo'm depending endless;conveyoizlsuspended from :.vthefbooni and kmeans includingL-ar farmljex.- i litendingzbetween theeconveyor and theiinast for varying the fangulari dependent yposition u off the-former, said [means also @including a a :powere driven cable f` .connected to? said; farm., n 15;; Inja machine ofthe characterfdescribed,

l structure` f pivotally A,supported :thereon -for tiltingmov'ement in a fverticalf plane=,;. aboom ,element .f hinged :Lat:- onei end: f to. the ismast'f'to swing a vertical plane', asupporting strut :being z-pivtedf theretof :ati` onek 1 end 5' and slidably engaging the .mast structure at .theother F end, meansi incluiding a :power-driven 1 cable @fori-eraisingy and .lowering the4A strut member and boom and a depending endless conveyor suspended fromitlieboin. j

6. In a machine of the character described; a main frame,

vertically disposed mast structure pivotally .supported on said frame for tilting move-2 ment in a vertical plane, a boom element hinged Vat one end to the mast to swing in at Y vertical plane, a depending endless conveyor pivotally suspended from the boom, a second conveyor cooperating with the rstmentioned conveyor and extending to the opposite side of the machine therefrom;V

means including said` engine for driving said conveyors, saidv means being operable with fthe elements of the Vmachine occupying dif- `i an enginemounted thereon, a

ferent relative positions, and means for rais!V ing and lowering said boom, tilting the mast` structure and moving-'the second conveyor frame to swing'the first-mentioned conveyor Y about its, pivotal point on the boom.

In a machine of the character described,. a main frame, ak 4vertically disposed mast structure pivotally supported thereon for V vtiltingmovement in a vertical plane, a boom element hinged at one end to the mast to swing in a vertical plane, a depending end- Y less conveyor pivotally suspended from the"` boom at its upper end, a Vsecond endless conveyor mounted transversely of the machine and pivotally'engaging the first conveyor at a point intermediate theends thereof and driving means for said conveyors7 said driv-i-` -3 ing means embodying rotatable elements concentric with the pivotal support of the mast upon the main frame, the pivoted support of the irst-menti'oned conveyor on .the boom and the pivotal connection betweenthe two conveyors.

8. In a machine of the character described, a mainframe, aidepending` endless conveyor for elevating material supported thereon, said conveyor being pivoted at its upper end Jfor swinging movementin a vertical plane, af second (3o-operating endlessl conveyor mounted'on the frame for transverse movement relative thereto and engaging the firstmentioned conveyor and means including said second conveyor for adjusting the lateral positioniofthe first-mentioned.conveyor While maintaining bothv conveyors 1n cooperative materialLtransferring relation.`

9. Ina machine of the character described,

ya main frame, a vertically disposed mast structure supported thereon, a depending endless conveyor suspended from theupper endof said mast structure for swinging movement in a vertical plane, a second endless conveyor extending across the main frame and f engaging the rst-mentioned conveyor in corelation therewith, and means extending between the v operative material-transferring mast structure'and therst-mentioned conveyor for adjusting the'lateral position of the latter with `respect to the mainframe and mast structure. Y n I EDWARD L.' BRADT. 

